Rhodocyclus gelatinosus biomass for egg yolk pigmentation

Biomass of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodocyclus gelatinosus was used at different levels in laying hens' rations as a xanthophyll source. Sixty-four hens were used in the experiment that investigated the effects of different biomass concentrations on weight gain, egg production, egg weight, and yolk color as compared with a control group that received no biomass supplementation in the ration. Yolk color was scored by means of a color fan. All concentrations tested were able to provide yolk color scores higher than those provided by the control group. The pigment deposition began after 24 h of administration and reached a plateau around the twentieth day. Each increase in the supplementation level led to an additional increase on yolk color scores. Yolk colors of all treatments that received R. gelatinosus biomass differed significantly from the control group and from each other, corroborating that the increase in the biomass supplementation had a positive effect on color increase. Body weight loss occurred in all treatments. Egg production did not increase with the biomass addition, while a significant increase in egg weight was observed in the treatments that received the product.

Efeito do tempo de estocagem sobre a composição bromatológica das fezes de galinhas poedeiras

In this trial the bromatologic composition of caged laying hen manure was studied according to a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replications. The treatments T-1, T-2, T-3 and T-4 consisted of caged laying hen manure stocked for 0; 7; 14 and 21-day times, respectively. Stocking period until 21 days decreased crude protein (P<0.01) and gross energy (P<0.01). The best bromatologic composition of hen caged manure data were proportional to the lower stocking time.

Cross-reactivity between antigens from Amblyomma cajennense and A-hebraeum (Acari : Ixodidae)

Laboratory animals exposed to feeding ticks develop resistance which is reflected by a decline in tick engorgement weight, egg-laying by adults and reduced egg viability. Serum antibodies from these hosts and their reaction with tick antigens have been detected by different methods, including precipitation techniques, immunofluorescent techniques, ELISA and Western blots. However, little is known about the effects of antibodies on ticks that engorge on resistant hosts, or which tissues of the tick body are possibly immunogenic. Some researchers, using immunohistochemistry, have detected host antibodies in the gut, salivary glands and haemolymph of ticks engorged on resistant animals. The same technique has helped considerably in determining antigenic sites or antibody targets in other arthropods. Consequently, immunohistochemistry techniques were used in this study to detect cross-reactivity between sera raised against Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) with Amblyomma hebraeum (Koch, 1844), and vice versa. The results show the existence of shared antigens between the 2 tick species. In general, our results point more to a 1-way cross-reactivity of A. hebraeum with A. cajennense than a reciprocal cross-reactivity, suggesting that A. hebraeum is more immunogenic than A. cajennense.

Artrópodes associados ao excremento de aves poedeiras

A research about arthropode fauna in laying hen excrement was carried out in a poultry house in the State of São Paulo, from January 2001 to December 2002. The objective was to verify the frequency of Diptera and Coleoptera collected by Berlese funil and flutuation methods, and to show correlation between the collect methods and sazonality possible in the currents seasons. A total of 29,499 insects were collected from seventy five collects, being 16,702 Diptera (six families) and 12,797 Coleoptera (four families). Some arthropodes presented direct relation with the collect method, the seasons of the years and the rainfall precipitation, with significant increase in the number of insects collected in certain periods of the year.

Oviposition pattern and within-season spatial and temporal variation of pre-dispersal seed predation in a population of Mimosa bimucronata trees

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

CROCODYLOMORPH EGGS and EGGSHELLS FROM THE ADAMANTINA FORMATION (BAURU GROUP), UPPER CRETACEOUS of BRAZIL

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Performance of Layers Submitted to Different Forced Molting Methods and Different Temperatures

This study was carried out to evaluate the performance and egg quality of laying hens, in their second laying cycle submitted to different forced-molting methods and three environmental temperatures. Six hundred layers were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with 15 treatments with five replicates of eight birds each, according to 5x3 factorial arrangement (molting methods vs. temperatures). The following forced-molting methods were applied: 90%, 70%, 50% dietary alfalfa inclusion, addition of 2,800 ppm zinc, and feed fasting. Temperatures were: 20 degrees C, 27 degrees C and 35 degrees C. At the end of each period of the second laying cycle, bird performance and egg quality were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and means were compared by orthogonal and polynomial contrasts. The highest alfalfa inclusion level (90% alfalfa and 10% basal diet) proved to be efficient as compared to the other methods, independently of temperature.

Estimates of genetic parameters, and cluster and principal components analyses of breeding values related to egg production traits in a White Leghorn population

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Utilisation of bacterial (Rubrivivax gelatinosus) biomass for egg yolk pigmentation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Broiler breeder trace mineral nutrition and feeding practices on embryo progeny development

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Valor nutricional da soja integral tostada e extrusada para poedeiras comerciais

An experiment was conducted to determine the apparent nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy (AMEn) values and the coefficients' metabolization of the: dry matter, ether extract, calcium and phosphorus availabilities of experimental layer diets containing toasted (TSB) and extruded (ESB) soybeans. The soybean meal (SBM) was substituted at 0, 50, and 100% by TSB and ESB whole soybeans. The whole soybeans utilization in layer diets did not adversely affect calcium and phosphorus availability. The SBM and ESB, in diets with crude protein at 17%, showed the best ether extract coefficients of metabolization. When TSB replaced all SBM in the diets, it was observed the worst value for AMEn.

Response to orphaning in two Neotropical termites: Armitermes euamignathus and Embiratermes festivellus

In this paper we examine the potential of the termites Armitermes euamignathus Silvestri: 1901 and Embiratermes festivellus (Silvestri, 1901) (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) to produce neotenics experimentally. Three nests of the mound-building termite A. euamignathus, from the Brazilian cerrado, had their primary queens removed in August 1994. After 12 months, only one mound survived; it had a normal appearance. In this healthy, orphaned colony we found the primary king, six physogastric nymphoid female replacement reproductives, two ergatoid female replacement reproductives, 46 nymphs, several presoldiers, soldiers, workers, larvae and many eggs. These data show that neotenics in A. euamignathus may originate from both workers and nymphs, but nymphoids are produced in larger numbers. The biometric study of nymphs and nymphoids suggests that these brachypterous neotenics were derived from third instar nymphs after a single moult or from four instar nymphs after a reduction of wing bud length. A piece of an E. festivellus nest with some third instar nymphs, soldiers and workers was kept under laboratory conditions. After 12 months, the whole experimental subcolony was examined and appeared to contain two pigmented nymphoid females, two pigmented nymphoid males, only one larva, seven nymphs of the same instar, 148 workers, five soldiers and many eggs. These results also indicate the capacity of the termite E. festivellus to produce nymphoid neotenics. These neotenic females were laying eggs, but they were not physogastric after a year, unlike some nymphoids of the same species collected from natural colonies.

Efeito de Diferentes Níveis de Manganês e Fósforo Sobre o Desempenho e a Qualidade da Casca dos Ovos de Poedeiras Comerciais

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the different levels of manganese and phosphorus (P) on the performance and eggshell quality and on determined blood constituents of 96 laying hens Hy-Line W36, with 60 weeks of age, distributed in 24 lots with four hens each. A completely randomized experimental design was used in a factorial arrangement (3x2), manganese levels (70, 140 and 210 ppm) and total phosphorus levels (.35 and .55%), totalizing six treatments with four replicates each. The experimental diets were isoproteic (16.0% CP), isocaloric (2800 kcal ME/kg), isocalcium (4.0% Ca) and isosodium (.16% Na). The manganese levels did not alter the production and eggshell quality. However, when hens were fed diets containing .35% of total P, there were observed decreases in the egg production, egg weight and egg mass, without alterations in eggshell quality characteristics. The supplemental manganese levels were not effective to improve eggshell quality at the final phase of production. The total phosphorus level of .35% was inadequate for the laying hens to express the normal production characteristics.

Breeding biology and nest site characteristics of the scarlet ibis in southeastern Brazil

The breeding biology of the only Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber colony in southeastern Brazil was studied during the 1996-97 breeding season. The ibises began to visit their colony site by mid-September. Nest building and egg laying took place in early November and was synchronous, making the first nesting pulse. Mean clutch size in this pulse was 2.45 eggs/nest, and 0.67 young/nest reached age three weeks, when they were able to walk about the nest tree and environs. Predation was the main cause of nest failures (74% of all losses), followed by nest collapses (19%). A second nesting pulse, also synchronous, started in late December, when the young from the first nests were already able to wander about the colony and make short flights. Mean clutch size of this pulse was 2.05 eggs/nest and productivity was 0.34 young/nest. Nest collapses during storms accounted for 58% of the losses, and predation for a further 27%. A third pulse, with only a few nests, started when the second pulse young were in their third week, but no nest was successful. The incubation time was 21-24 days, and the young were able to fly well when 40 days old, deserting the colony by age 75 days. Nesting early in the breeding season yielded greater success. Nests were built close to each other (a sphere with a 1.8 m radius and centered on an average nest would include the four nearest neighbors) and there was always more than one nest per tree. Most nests were built on the upper third of the nest-tree and had some cover from overhanging branches. There was a trend for the ibises building their nests in even closer proximity during the second pulse, perhaps as a strategy to lessen individual predation risks. Received 30 August 2000, accepted 4 October 2000.